Electric radiant heater



April 27, 1926. 1,582,709

v. G. VAUGHAN ELECTRIC RADIANT HEATER Original Filed May 24. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNvl-:NTORl Vido/6. Vmghan.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aprill 27 1926.

' v. G. VAUGHAN ELECTRIC RADIANT HEATER original Filed may 24A 1923 Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

VANA.

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PENSISWLVAIIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- "Y, A COB-FRATGIT CF YENNSYL- ELECTRIC RDANT HEATER.

Application filed May 2s, 19553, Serial No. 641,054. Renewed August 11, 1925.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that Vieron G. Vanni-IAN, a citizen of the YUnited States, and a resident of lllilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in tlectric Ridiant Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

illy invention relates to electrical heating devices and particularly to radiant electric air heaters.

One object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple and compact electrical air heater of the radiant type comprising a casing and a refractory resistor-supporting plate located therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a radiant electric air heater comprising relatively few parts that are easily assembled and disassembled.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refractory means for supporting a plurality of radiant heating units, the refractory means havingl integral surfaces for reflecting the heat generated by portions of said heating units.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit-controlling means for permitting the energization of the heating units in such manner as to simulate the action of a gas flame of increasing capacity.

ln practicing; my invention, l provide an ornamental casing having a front opening therein and means for supporting a refractory electric-insulating plate in said casing adjacent said front opening in such manner that it can be easily and quickly removed therefrom and replaced therein. rEhe plate is provided with a plurality of vertically extending rows of integral, spaced, overhanging projections that extend angularly from the face of the plate.

The projections in alternate rows extend in opposite directions and are offset relatively to each other. integral ridges are located between the rows of projections. A portion of the angularly extending outer surface of each of the overhanging projections is of such shape as to constitute a reflecting surface for a portion of the heating unit located adjacent thereto.

fr plurality of heating units are supported by the overhanging projections in a path across the face of the plate and severally comprise a helically wound resistor wire. A plurality of bus bars are provided topermit of employingthe same individual heating units on either a 1l() volt or a 220 circuit.

A control switch is provided for selectively energizing the heating units to simulate the operation of a gas heater when the amount of gas permitted to be burned is increased.

ln the drawings,

Figure l is a view, in front elevation, of an electric air heater embodying my invention,

llig. l is a view, in end elevation, of a refractory resistor-supporting plate comprising a part of the device embodying my invention,

Fig. S is a view, in vertical section, through the heaterV illustrated in Fig. l., taken on the line lll- HI thereof,

-l is a schematic representation of a diagram of connections suitable for energization from a Q00 volt circuit, and

is a schematic representation of a diagram of connections suitable for energization from a 110 volt circuit, both diagrams of connectons embodying a part of my invention.

An electric heater ll comprises an ornamental cusing l2 that may be of substantially the form and contour illustrated in Figs. l and 3 of the drawing. The casing l2 has a recessed front that is located between two ornamental side columns i3, and is provided with suitable supporting members ll. rlhe :ing l2 may be built up in any suit-able or d flannel', either by the en'iployment of sheet metal members or by casting the case either in its entirety or in parts and then assembling the same. The main object of this part of the device is to provide a casing having au ornamental and pleasing appearance in co-operation with the heating element to be hereinafter described more` inV detail. l

rlfhc casingl 12 is provided in its front portion with an oizieningl l5 within which there is located a plate l5 of a refractory electricinsulating` material, that constitutes the supporting` means for a plurality of heatingunits to be hereinafter described in detail.

CII

Sluitably recessed integral portions are provided to permit of easily and quiclly inserting the plate 16 in and removing it from its proper operative position in the casing.

The front surface of the plate 16 is provided with a plurality of vertically extending rows et spaced projections 17 that eX- tend angularly from the surface of the plate and are of .substantially triangular shape. The projections 17 in the alternate rows eX- tend in opposite directions and are located in. staggered relation. Vertically extending ridges 18 are located between the adjacent rows o1 projections 17.

The projections 17 are each provided wits an oyerhanging portion 19 in order that a hclically wound resistor member 21 extending along the two sides ot' the projections 17 ot substantially triangular form, may be held in close operative engagement against the front surface of the plate immediately below the overhung portion of the respective projections 17.

The resistor members 21 extend in a zigzag -form in substantially a horizontal direction across the plate 16, and are held in their proper operative position by the overhang'- ing projections 19. As it is desired to operate the individual heating units 21, at such temperature as will cause them to glow, it is desirable to so hold them as to have the smallest possible portion thereof in actual operatwe engagement with the plane surtace ot the plate and this object is accomplished by the provision ot the vertically extending ridges 18. The heater units 21 are, theretore, supported by the alternately oppositely-eatending oyerhanging projections and are prevented :trom operatively engaging the plane surface of the plate over any extended portion of their length by the intervening ridges 18.

T he front surfaces 22 ot the respective projections 17 extend angularly from the surface ot the plate 16 and constitute a small reflecting surface for that portion of an adjacent heating unit located immediately therebelow or thereabove, as is the case in adjacent rows ot projections.

l have illustrated six independent heate ing units 21 that are each ot such length and resistance as to permit ot' connecting them directly to a 110 rolt circuit. lWhen it is desired to connect them to a 220 volt circuit, two oit the heating units are connected in series circuit relation to each other. Figs. Il and 5 illustrate schematically two diagrams of connections that are employed with the liereinbclfore described heating units.

1l illustrates a diagram of connection for energization from a 220 volt circuit. A bus bar 23 is mounted on the back of the plate 16 by suitable screws extending through spaced openings 24 that are located adjacent to the right-hand edge of the plate. A plurality of bus bars 25, 26 and 27, of sucn cessive-ly increasing length and comprising either formed bars ot metal or relatively heavy conductors, are secured against the back of the plate by screws 28 extending through openings 29. lThe left-hand ends of each two adjacent coils are connected at the baclr, extending through openings 30 adjacent to the left-hand edge or the plate. rlhe right-hand ends o1 the first, third and iifth coils, beginning at the top, are electrically connected to the bus bar 23, extending through holes 30 adjacent the right-hand edge of the plate.

'jihe right hand ends ot the second, fourth and sixth coils extending through openings 30 are electrically connected to the bus bars or conductors 27, 26 and 25, respectively.

-11 control switch 31 is mounted in any suitable location on the casing 12, preferably in some inconspicuous but convenient and ccessible place. The end of one et two supply circuit conductors 32 is electrically connected to the bus bar 23 and the end oi' the other supply circuit conductor' is electrically connected to one of the terminals Bil of the switch 31. rlhe bus bars or conductors 25, 26 and 27 are electrically connected respectively to terminals 35, 35 and 87 of the switch. A contact bridging member (not shown) is provided in the switch 31 and is eti'ectire, successive turning movements thereof, to electrically connect the terminal 34 to the terminal 35,then additionally to terminal 36 and finally additionally to terminal 37. In the lirst operative position ot the bridging' member, the lo ver two heating units are energized, in 'the nent position ol the bridging member, the two intermediate heating units are also energized, and in the last position thereof, all ot the heating units are energized. lThis operation ot the heating units simulates very closely the operation oi" the ordinary radiant gas heater when the amount of gas permitted to be burned is gradually increased to its maximum normal quantity.

l? 5 illustrates schematically a diagram oi3 connections that is employed when the heater is to be energized trom 110 volt circuit and ditlers in the method of connecting the. individual heating units to the respective bus bars and in the location oi the bus bar 23. The left-hand ends o'tJ all ot hel heating units 21 entend through openings 30 and are connected to the bus bar 23v that is now located adjacent to the lett-hand end of the plate 16 and is connected to the supply circuit conductor 52 by a suitable conductor 38.

The right-hand ends ot the respective heating units 21 are connected in pairs to the respective bus bars 27, 26 and 25 beginning at the top ot the heating units, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Clt

llVhen the Contact bridging member of the switch 3l is moved from its inoperative position, it first connects the terminal 34 to the terminal 35 whert-xby the lower two heating units are energized.

Further operation of the contact bridging member effects substantially the same energization as hereinbefore described for a Q20 volt supply circuit.

The device embodying my invention thus pro Tides a relatively simple heating element of relatively large capacity that is located in an ornamental casing from which it may be easily and quickly removed in case of necessity and within which it may be quiclily and easilv replaced.

rllhe zigzag form in which the respectivel heating units are held, provides a pleasing` forni therefor when the saine become incandescent during the operation thereof. Substantially all of the heat generated by the heating units is dissipated by radiation, and only a small proportion thereof is dissipated by convection currents of air, but all of the heat generated is effective in heating a room in which a heater of this type is placed.

The system of control comprising a part of my invention is believed to be novel and effective in controlling the energization of a heater of this type to simulate the action of a gas heater of the radiant type.

Various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art, or are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. An electric heater comprising a refractory plate having a plurality of spaced, par* allel and alternately oppositeiy extending, integral, projecting, overhung portions a resister member extending in a zigzag path past said overhung portions and being supported thereby, and a spacing member adjacent to said overhang portions for maintaining said resistor member in spaced relation with said plate.

2. rin electric heater comprising a refractory plate having a plurality of p rallel rows of spaced, integral, overhung projections, the projections in adjacent rows eX- tending in opposite directions, a resistor member supported by said integral projections and Yrrtending laterally of said rows, and a plurality of spacing members located between said rows of projections for maintaining said resistor members in spaced relation relatively to said plate.

3. An electric heater comprising a refractory plate having a plurality of spaced, integral, overhung portions, projecting angu larly from said plate, a helically-wound resistor member ext-ending between and held by said overhang portions, and a spacing member adjacent to said overhung portions for maintaining said resistor member in spaced relation relatively to said plato.

in electric heater comprising' a resistor member and a refractory resistor-supporting plate havig a plurality of spaced, integral, alternately oppostely-extending overhung portions projecting angularly from said plate, tl e outer surfaces ot said angularly-projecting portions forming reflect-ing surfaces for predetermined portions of said resistor member.

5. An electric heater comprising a refractor',T plate having a plurality of spaced, in tegral, alternately oppositely-extending, overhung portions, a resilient resistor meniber engaged and supported by said overhung portions at spaced intervals whereby all parts of said resistor member are maintained at substantially uniform tension unv4 der all conditions of operation, and a spacing member adjacent to said overhung portions for maintaining said resistor in spaced relation relatively to said plate.

6. An electric heater comprising a refractory plate having a plurality of parallel rows of spaced, integral, overhang projections extending angularly from said plate, the projections in adjacent rows extending in opposite directions, and a resilient resistor member ext-ending laterally of said rows and supported by said overhung projections and having a part of the heat generated thereby when suitably energized, reflected outwardly by the outer surfaces of said overhang projections.

'7. An electric heater comprising a casing having an opening in the front thereof, a refractory plate located in said opening and comprising a plurality of parallel rows of spaced, integral, overhung projections, the projections in adjacent rows extending in opposite directions and the projections being alined laterally of the rows, a plurality ofresistor units respectively engaging and supported by said overhang projections and extending in zigzag path laterally of said rows, and a plurality of spacing members extending substantially parallel to said rows to maintaining said resistor units in spaced relation relatively to said plate.

8. An electric ,lair heater comprising a casing having an open front, a refractory plate in said open front having a plurality of horizontal rows of alternately oppositelyl extending, overhung projections extending angularly 'from the surface of said plate, a plurality of radiant resistor units supported by the respective rows of overhung projections, and circuit-controlling means for so selectively energizing said resistor units as to simulate the action of a gas llame of increasing strength.

9. An electric air heater comprising a caeing having an open front, a refractory plate :n said open lront having a. plurality ol horizontal rows or alternately oppositelyextending, overhung projections extendingl ungularly from the surluce of said plete, :i plurality of radiant resistor units supported by the respective rows of o'verliung projections, und circuit-controlling means for permittii energization of increasing` numbers o1" resistor units, beginning at the bottom and extending upwardly, in accord4 ence 'ith the position of said circuit-controlling ineens.

l0. jin electric nir heater comprising` u casing having un open front, a refractory plate in said open liront having,l a plurality of horizontul rows of alternate y oppositelyextending, overhung` projections entendingzl ungularly from the surface of said plate, :i plurality of radiant resistor units supported loy the respective rows ol" overhung grojcctions, a plurality or bus bers in seid casin, u oircuit-controllingv nem-is, :intl ineens for electrically connecting said resistor units bus bars, and circuit controlling ineens to permit of energizing increasing numbers of resistor units, beginning at the bottom and extending upwardly, in accordance with the position of seid circuit-controlling meu-ns.

ll. An electric air heater comprising u plurality of horizontzilly-extending heating units located` in superposel spaced relation relatively to euch other7 t circuit-controlling means and connections to said heating,` units to per nit of energizing increasing,` numliers of heating` units, beginning at the loottoin and extending upwardly, in accordance with the position oi seid circuit-controllin;l means. 4

l2. An electric air heater comprising :i plurality of horizontally-extending superilosefl indient heating units, and circuit-controlling ineens for permitting of selectively energizing the heating units to simulate the action or a gas flume of increasing strengtli. in testimony whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my nume this 21st clay of Muy VlC'lCGR Gf. VAUGHAN. 

